Australia Bans Manhunt: Violent Content Or Free Speech?

The controversial video game Manhunt was banned in Australia in 2004. The game had been linked to the murder of a British teenager, with the victim's mother blaming Manhunt for her son's death. The game was deemed unsuitable for anyone to play and was removed from sale in Australia. The decision to ban Manhunt sparked a censorship row, with some arguing that the game highlighted the need for Western Australia to restore its independent censorship powers. The ban on Manhunt in Australia adds to a list of video games that have been refused classification and banned from sale in the country.

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The game was linked to a UK teenager's murder

In 2004, the video game Manhunt was banned in Australia. This was due in part to its links to the murder of a UK teenager, Stefan Pakeerah, who was killed by 17-year-old Warren Leblanc.

Stefan Pakeerah's mother, Giselle Pakeerah, blamed the game for her son's death, stating that Leblanc, who was allegedly obsessed with the game, had mimicked the Manhunt video quest by carrying out a brutal killing. Pakeerah's death involved repeated stabbings with a claw hammer.

The game Manhunt had been available for purchase in Australia for almost a year before the ban. The game had an 18 certificate in the UK, and in Australia, it was initially given an MA15+ certificate, indicating that it could be sold to those over the age of 15. However, in the wake of Pakeerah's murder, the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) in Australia revoked the game's MA15+ certificate, rendering its sale in the country illegal.

The OFLC's decision was influenced by a complaint from Western Australia state Justice Minister Michelle Roberts, who called for the game to be banned. The game's publisher, Rockstar, was also behind the controversial and violent Grand Theft Auto series, two of which were banned in Australia.

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The game was described as a murder manual

The violent video game Manhunt was banned in Australia in 2004. The game had been available for purchase in the country since late 2003 and was classified as MA15+, meaning it was only suitable for players aged 15 and above. However, the game was described as a "murder manual" and sparked concerns about its influence on players.

In the UK, Manhunt was linked to the murder of 14-year-old Stefan Pakeerah by 17-year-old Warren Leblanc. Pakeerah's mother, Giselle Pakeerah, blamed the game for her son's death, stating that Leblanc, who was allegedly obsessed with the game, had mimicked the violent gameplay in carrying out the murder. While Leicester police ruled out the game as an influence, the case drew public attention to the violent nature of Manhunt.

In Australia, Western Australia's Opposition Leader Colin Barnett advocated for a ban on the game, urging the state to restore its independent censorship powers. He was supported by Barbara Scott, the Liberal Shadow Minister for Children, Culture, and the Arts, who cited numerous emails from Western Australians expressing concern about the game. Additionally, Western Australia's Justice Minister Michelle Roberts requested the reclassification of the game from the Federal Office of Film, Literature, and Classification (OFLC).

Following these developments, the Classification Review Board voted to ban Manhunt in Australia, stating that it could not be legally sold, hired, advertised, or exhibited in the country. The game was described as containing "elements beyond those set out in the classification guidelines," with particular concern around its high-impact violence related to torture. The ban was enforced through hefty fines for retailers caught selling or hiring the game.

The game Manhunt 2, a sequel to the original, also faced similar controversy and was refused classification in Australia, effectively banning its sale in the country.

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The game features sustained and cumulative casual sadism

The violent video game Manhunt was banned in Australia in 2004. The game had been available for purchase in the country since late 2003 for players over the age of 15. However, the game was linked to the murder of a British teenager, allegedly influenced by the perpetrator's obsession with the game. This prompted the Western Australia state Justice Minister Michelle Roberts to request the reclassification of the game.

Manhunt features sustained and cumulative casual sadism. The game has been described as an exploration of "the depths of human depravity in a vicious and sadistic tale of urban horror." The player is subjected to a series of experiments and is encouraged to kill characters using a variety of objects. The game normalises and glorifies extreme violence and torture, which can desensitize players to the consequences and suffering of others.

The game's violent nature was a significant concern for Australian authorities and the public. The Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) revoked the game's MA15+ certificate, rendering its sale illegal in Australia. The OFLC's decision was based on the game's graphic content, which exceeded the guidelines for the MA15+ rating. The game's publisher, Take 2 Interactive, declined to comment on the ban.

The ban on Manhunt highlights the challenges of regulating violent video games and their potential influence on players. The game's refusal of classification and subsequent ban in Australia sent a clear message about the country's stance on such content. The decision carried significant weight, with retailers warned to remove existing stocks from their shelves immediately.

The Manhunt controversy also sparked discussions about the need for independent censorship powers in Western Australia to address community concerns effectively. Western Australia's Opposition Leader Colin Barnett advocated for state-level censorship powers to complement national censorship. However, Justice Minister Michelle Roberts criticized his stance as a "cheap stunt," arguing for a national approach to classifications.

The game was refused classification

The game Manhunt was refused classification in Australia in 2004, after having been on sale for almost a year. The Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) revoked the game's MA15+ certificate, which meant that the sale of the game in Australia was rendered illegal. The OFLC stated that the game was not suitable for anyone to play and that retailers must remove any existing stocks of the game from their shelves.

The decision to ban the game was influenced by its association with a murder in the UK. The parents of 14-year-old Stefan Pakeerah claimed that the game had influenced their son's killer, 17-year-old Warren Leblanc. Leblanc, who pleaded guilty to the crime, was allegedly obsessed with the game and mimicked it in carrying out the murder. This prompted UK retailers Dixons and Game to pull the title from their shelves.

In Australia, the Western Australian Minister for Justice, Michelle Roberts, put forward a request to the OFLC for reclassification of the game. The Classification Review Board voted 3-1 to ban the game, stating that it could not be legally sold, hired, advertised, or exhibited in Australia. The ban was also influenced by the game's content, which has been described as "an exploration of the depths of human depravity in a vicious and sadistic tale of urban horror." The game features severe violence and torture, with the player taking on the role of a scientist who has been subjected to a series of experiments and is encouraged to kill using a variety of objects.

The ban on Manhunt highlights the challenges of classifying and regulating video games, particularly those that contain violent or disturbing content. It also raises questions about the impact of video games on players and the responsibility of developers and publishers to ensure their products are used responsibly.

The game was banned from sale in Australia

The game Manhunt was banned from sale in Australia in 2004. The ban was enforced by the Federal Office of Film, Literature and Classification (OFLC), which revoked the game's MA15+ certificate. This decision was influenced by the Western Australian Minister for Justice, Michelle Roberts, who requested the reclassification of the game. The Classification Review Board determined that the game could not be legally sold, hired, advertised, or exhibited in Australia due to its violent content.

The game Manhunt had been available for purchase in Australia for almost a year before the ban was implemented. During this time, approximately 18,000 copies of the game were sold in the country. The game had received significant public attention earlier in 2004 due to its association with a murder case in the UK. The parents of 14-year-old Stefan Pakeerah claimed that the game influenced their son's killer, 17-year-old Warren Leblanc, who pleaded guilty to the crime. This incident prompted retailers in the UK, such as Dixons and Game, to remove the game from their shelves.

In the context of the murder case, the violent nature of the Manhunt game became a subject of concern for the public and the media. The game was described as an exploration of "the depths of human depravity in a vicious and sadistic tale of urban horror." The Western Australian Opposition Leader, Colin Barnett, advocated for the game to be banned, stating that it highlighted the need for Western Australia to have independent censorship powers to address community concerns. The game's publisher and distributor, Take 2 Interactive, declined to comment on the ban.

The ban on the sale of Manhunt in Australia was not an isolated incident. The game had also been banned in New Zealand in 2003, and there were calls for similar actions in the UK due to its violent content. The Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification had previously banned 17 computer games before Manhunt, and the country has a history of refusing classification for games that feature substance use, sexual content, and high-impact violence related to torture, which results in their effective ban.

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